Thankful,
2001
In
the spirit of the holidays...
I'm
thankful to be in a better
place spiritually, emotionally
and circumstantially this
year than I was last year.
I'm starting to think that
you never fully eliminate
a consistent level of stress
and heartache from your life
as much as your standard of
living just becomes a little
better every year while you
endure the consistent level
of stress and heartache.
I'm
thankful as well for the generosity
of friends over the previous
two years that afforded me
the time to regroup and recharge
to strike out again in bold
new directions.
I'm
thankful for new friends and
new collaborators... it's
funny how sometimes you meet
people and feel like you've
known them your whole life.
Suffice it to say, the new
backing band is going to kick
some ass.
I'm
thankful for reading bedtime
stories TWICE in a row, just
because.
I'm
thankful for the privilege
of getting to know my parents
with the perspective of being
a parent. I don't think you
can ever fully appreciate
how much your parents love
you until you love your own
child. It's only then that
you begin to grasp the true
meaning of unconditional love
and start to understand the
depth of emotion your parents
feel for you. It's nice to
be able to return some of
that.
I'm
thankful to be self-employed
during these turbulent economic
times. Downsizing? I'm only
one guy. Layoffs? Geez, I'd
have to get a job before I
could lose it.
I'm
thankful for the person my
daughter makes be become.
I'm
thankful when the cell phone
bill comes in under 20 pages.
Doesn't happen often enough,
but...
I'm
thankful to live in a country
where certain basic freedoms
are undeniable rights. Even
during times of duress when
our leaders seek to restrict
our basic rights we have a
framework that protects those
rights from being stripped
away by those who claim to
have our best interests in
mind.
I'm
also thankful there's a new
presidential election every
four years.
I'm
thankful you can't golf in
the snow. Otherwise my new
obsession might just have
killed me.
I'm
thankful for alternative media.
In these days of made-for-television
news, it's hard to tell the
spin doctors from the reporters
and the tv commercials from
the splashy newscasts.
I'm
thankful to be close to the
same group of friends for
over 14 years now... I was
lucky to meet a great bunch
of people when I was in college
and we've all remained unusually
close despite our collective
ups and downs. What we share
is truly magic, and that becomes
more apparent with every passing
year.
And
I'm thankful my friends can
afford Saabs. They've worked
hard and they deserve it,
dammit!
I'm
STILL thankful to be a Dallas
Cowboys fan, but it's getting
harder. Fortunately I can
reflect on four world championships,
even during a dismal season.
Or seasons.
I'm
thankful as well for all of
you who come out to the live
shows or buy the cds or ask
about the new music. It's
coming. Things are definitely
headed in the right direction.
And
I'm thankful for the freedom
to pursue what I love. A friend
and I have started a website
for all the folks who like
the tropics, Buffett tunes
and tequila-based sports.
We're doing it just because
it's fun - check it out at
www.KeyLimeCafe.com.
I'm
thankful to finally have all
those damned speeding tickets
off my record. Insurance is
a LOT cheaper without 7 or
8 moving violations.
I'm
thankful for the overly-aggressive
bear hugs my daughter gives
me. Just can't get enough
of those.
I'm
thankful to be sharing my
life with someone who makes
me happy.
And
on a personal note, I'm really
thankful for all of you who
take the time to read this.
It's just nice sometimes to
sit down and write knowing
that several hundred of you
will check it out. I know
that sounds cheesy, but seriously
- the whole reason I create
is to share with people and
if no one cared, well, what's
the point. So thank you for
the gift you give to me.
Of
course I'm more thankful for
those of you who take the
time to write back once and
a while. Hey, this is the
year 2001 - writing doesn't
have to be a one-way medium
anymore.
Happy
thanksgiving everyone - spend
the holiday with those you
love, be safe, and hug your
children a few extra times,
okay?!
_lee
This
column © 2001 Lee Totten
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